Junaid Hussain, 18, of Birmingham, swiped the sensitive information after unlawfully accessing a GMail account used by Katie Kay, a Blair aide. The hacker, who was a member of hacktivist crew TeaMp0isoN, also admitted publishing the purloined contacts list online, a move that triggered safety fears for the Blairs at the time.

Hussain (aka "TriCK") also pleaded guilty at London's Southwark Crown Court to flooding the UK's national anti-terrorism hotline with more than 100 automated calls in a denial-of-service attack. His antics were said to have prevented legitimate callers from contacting officials.

Judge Peter Testar asked for reports from probation officials, and warned Hussain he was likely to go to jail for his offences when he reappears in court for sentencing on 27 July. ®